Apple Computers do not get Malware and Computer Viruses (Urban Myth) Apple iMac’s, PowerBooks and devices running iOS are just as prone to Malware and Computer Virus infection as are Windows computers At the IT Guys, we are seeing an increasing amount of Apple Macs coming through the door with problems not that dissimilar to that of their Windows counterparts. We scan EVERY device for viruses irrespective of it’s OS (Operating system) and in 90% of cases the Apple iMac, Macbook, Macbook Pro and Macbook Air, have been found to contain known malware such as Spyware and Trojan’s. Just because a Mac has a virus does not mean that it is going to be slowed down, spamming your friends with emails or producing porn popup windows. The viruses may well be dormant as they as mostly designed to take advantage of the security flaws in the Microsoft Windows Operating systems. Having said that, with the ever increasing market share of Apple OS, the criminals that design the malware are increasingly targeting and infect Mac iOS or Mac OS Do you need to install an Anti Virus product for a Mac? The bad news is “Yes” but make sure you use one that is specific for Mac iOS or Mac OS Installing a windows version of Norton’s on a Mac will corrupt the operating system. The Good News is there is an excellent FREE one in AVG Anti-Virus for Mac click on the link to install it. It’s NOT a FREE-Trial, it’s a genuine FREE Anti Virus from our friends at AVG. How to minimise the chances of a Mac getting a virus? Apple bring out security updates for Mac OS all the time. Make sure you install the latest patches and security updates as soon as they become available. To learn how to tell if your Mac needs updating, see the following article. See Update OS X and App Store apps on your Mac Is your Apple Mac, iMac or MacBook running slow? How to speed up your Mac How to check Mac, iMac, Mini or MacBook for MacOS Updates   Beware of the following Fake Programs claiming to be legitimate Anti Virus Programs Do not install MacKeeper or iAnti-Virus or CleanMyMac: See this User Tip: https://discussions.apple.com/docs/DOC-3022 Do not be tricked by ‘SCAREWARE’ Do not be tricked by ‘scareware‘, such as pop-ups on your browser, that tempts computer users to download fake anti-virus software that may itself be malware. Once installed, the software may steal data or force people to make a payment to register the fake product. Examples include MacKeeper and iAntivirus, but there are others. Also, beware of MacSweeper and MACDefender** (also goes under the name of MacProtector, MacGuard, MacSecurity or MacShield): These are malware that mislead users by exaggerating reports about spyware, adware or viruses on their computer in an attempt to obtain payment for an application that does nothing that free utilities do not also offer, and in many cases will also mess up your system. *Malicious software dubbed MACDefender takes aim at users of the Mac OS X operating system by automatically downloading a file through JavaScript. But users must also agree to install the software, leaving the potential threat limited. **(This malware is not to be confused with MacDefender, the maker of geocaching software including GCStatistic and DTmatrix. The company noted on its site it is not affiliated with the malware.) Beware of fake ADOBE sites Mac users should always obtain their copy of Adobe Flash Player directly from Adobe’s official website and to disable the “Open ‘safe’ files after downloading” option in Safari Preferences/General to avoid automatically running files downloaded from the Internet. Also, do not turn on Java in Safari Preferences/Security. Few websites use Java. Javascript is something entirely different and should be left active. Avoid going to suspect and untrusted Web sites Torrent, Gaming, FREE Software and Porn sites should especially be avoided. Check out what you are downloading. Mac OS X asks you for you administrator password to install applications for a reason! Only download media and applications from well-known and trusted Web sites, i.e. the developers’ own web sites or the Apple App Store. If you think you may have downloaded suspicious files, read the installer packages and make sure they are legit. If you cannot determine if the program you downloaded is infected, do a quick Internet search and see if any other users reported issues after installing a particular program. Avoid Peer-to-peer sharing applications. Download torrents (such as the now defunct LimeWire and PirateBay) supplying pirated software, movies etc are hotbeds of potential software issues waiting to happen to your Mac. Everything from changing permissions to downloading trojans and other malicious software can be acquired from using these applications. Recent results of a Mac scanned with AVG for Mac   Viruses Found Malsign.OpenCandy.7AF OSX/Generic_c.DQ Adware OSX/Genieo.C Adware JS/Spigot.A W97M/Generic FakeAlert :jk: